rub
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1rub
verb \ˈrəb\rubbedrub·bing
Definition of RUB
intransitive verb
1
a : to move along the surface of a body with pressure : grate b (1) : to fret or chafe with or as if with friction (2) : to cause discontent, irritation, or anger
2
: to continue in a situation usually with slight difficulty <in spite of financial difficulties, he is rubbing along>
3
: to admit of being rubbed (as for erasure or obliteration)
transitive verb
1
a : to subject to or as if to the action of something moving especially back and forth with pressure and friction b (1) : to cause (a body) to move with pressure and friction along a surface (2) : to treat in any of various ways by rubbing c : to bring into reciprocal back-and-forth or rotary contact
2
— rub elbows or rub shoulders
: to associate closely : mingle
— rub one's nose in
: to bring forcefully or repeatedly to one's attention
— rub the wrong way
See Examples of RUB
- Could you rub my shoulders?
- He blinked and rubbed his eyes.
- The cat rubbed itself against my leg.
- The cat rubbed against my leg.
- Don't rub too hard or you'll tear the paper.
- He rubbed his hands with glee.
- There was a squeak when the boards rubbed together.
- The back of my shoe is rubbing against my heel and giving me a blister.
- There are marks where the chair has rubbed against the wall.
- There are marks where the chair has been rubbing the wall.
Origin of RUB
Middle English rubben; akin to East Frisian rubben to rub, scrape, Icelandic rubba to scrape
First Known Use: 14th century
2rub
nounDefinition of RUB
1
a : an unevenness of surface (as of the ground in lawn bowling) b : obstruction, difficulty <the rub is that so few of the scholars have any sense of this truth themselves — Benjamin Farrington> c : something grating to the feelings (as a gibe or harsh criticism) d : something that mars serenity
2
: the application of friction with pressure <an alcohol rub>
Examples of RUB
- She's an amazing cook, but she rarely has time to make meals. There's the rub.
- He used his favorite rub on the steaks.
- a dry rub for chicken
First Known Use of RUB
1586
Related to RUB
- Synonyms
- aggravation, aggro [British], bother, botheration, bugbear, exasperation, frustration, hair shirt, hassle, headache, inconvenience, irk, irritant, nuisance, peeve, pest, annoyance, ruffle, thorn, trial, vexation
rub
noun \ˈrəb\ (Medical Dictionary)Medical Definition of RUB
1
: the application of friction with pressure <an alcohol rub>
2
: a sound heard in auscultation that is produced by the friction of one structure moving against another
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